Himalayan Salt Blocks for Beginners

Himalayan Salt Blocks for Beginners

Everything you need to know about using and caring for a Himalayan Salt Block, Slab, Board, Plate, Dish; whatever you call it go out and grab one!

When I first began reading about Salt Blocks I had rarely seen them in stores, but in the years since I have found them in various kitchen stores, on Amazon, The Spice and Tea Exchange and now Trader Joe’s! Well, I do declare!

The salt slab I found at the Greenville, South Carolina Trader Joe's.

Himalayan salt comes from the natural salt deposits found in the Himalaya Mountains that sprawl through Asia from Afghanistan through Pakistan to India on into Nepal, and Tibet all the way to Burma (Myanmar). The mountains have been mined for salt since 320 B.C. we see it in supermarkets and specialty stores in a variety of ways such as fine, coarse, in grinders, mixed with other spices, as blocks and slabs and more.

I’ve been using Himalayan Salt for the wonderful health benefits but even more so for the taste. I buy it in bulk and also in a grinder from Costco. Once I tasted Himalayan Salt I simply couldn’t go back to regular table salt. I’ve even been known to carry my own small salt shaker in my bag but I've been doing this for over a decade since I gave up table salt. You heard me right; I'm salt spoiled.

I recently shared about the benefits of heating Himalayan Salt using salt lamps and salt candle holders and now I would like to share with you the joy of using Himalayan Salt slabs in cooking as well as in serving foods. Once I started to look into using salt blocks in the kitchen, I knew I wanted to cook with one. I wanted to be able to use one on the grill.

There are so many to choose from, truly. I want to compare the two I have just a bit. Both are made of quality Himalayan salt and both should do a great job hot or cold. I'll share more as we go along. I recommend using a square slab for grilling purposes, as it fits most grills better and is easier to move around. They are pretty heavy!

On the left my salt slab from Trader Joe's on the right the one I purchased from Spice Company

I have heard salt block cooking is all the rage on food shows as of late but I have not had the opportunity to see those shows (we don’t have regular tv). However, over the last few years I have read several Prepper books which suggest it is a good product that keeps well and has long term value. As I studied it more, the chef inside me said, “let’s start cooking!” So, I began searching for salt blocks and slabs for my own kitchen.

Versatile Salt Blocks

The best part is the versatility of the salt blocks. These beautiful translucent pink crystals can serve to cook, grill, sear, cure and present chilled foods, even desserts, all while imparting the heavenly flavor of Himalayan salt to your foods. Heating sometimes can cause the salt block to change color and over time crack, but even if a block does crack, you can still use it in other ways. Here's a fairly inexpensive one that would make a great starter block.

So far, I have two blocks, one I intend to cook on and the other one for cold foods and serving on. The more uniform the color, the better for cooking according to experts. I'll be serving on the one from The Spice and Tea Exchange, slightly smaller, but more marbled. It's perfect for using it cold. I'll be using the Trader Joe's slab for cooking. I also want to mention that the one on the left above (from Trader Joe's) was half the price of the one from The Spice and Tea Exchange. Therefore, where price is considered, Trader Joe's beats The Spice and Tea Exchange.

I originally planned to use my salt block only for chilled foods and presentations. This is simple. Just freeze the salt block for a couple of hours and arrange foods on the salt block and serve. Desserts such as fruit or even ice cream (I'm using the Trim Healthy Mama Tummy Tucking ice cream with the caramel sauce from the Pay Off Day Candies) can be served right on the salt block. I mean, who doesn’t love the combo of sweet and salty? For beauty, I really like the coloration of the block from The Spice and Tea Exchange.

Cooking with a Salt Block

Due to the composition of the Himalayan Salt Block it is able to hold temperature for a long while, in a way similar to but exceeding an iron skillet. Salt blocks can be safely heated and chilled to extreme temperatures. The melting temperature of salt is said to be almost 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s just what I read, I haven’t tested that theory 😉

Before heating however, it is important to make sure the block is fully dry. Allow the block to rest 24 hours between uses (another good reason to have more than one!) The first few times it is used the salt block will obtain a few small cracks and the color will become lighter. After time and washing (more on washing later) it may darken again.

I have a glass top range that I did not want to damage, so I have only tried mine on the grill so far. I am in search of something like a diffuser, trivet or a metal spacer for use when heating my salt block on the stovetop. It is very important NOT to place a salt block directly on the glass top heating element as it could damage the range as well as the salt block. The same applies to other types of stoves/ranges. Gas stoves are great for use with salt blocks.

Always heat the salt block slowly, starting on low. As the block heats you may see some moisture along the edges of the block and that’s ok. This moisture will evaporate as it heats. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Increase heat slowly if a higher temperature is desired. Raising the temperature every 5-10 minutes until the desired temperature is reached.

To test the temperature of the salt block, just drip some water onto the surface of the block to see how vigorously the water droplets sizzle. With time, you will gain experience, but if it sizzles away quickly it should be plenty hot.

For a charcoal grill, you should move the coals to one side and place the block on the opposite side to allow it to heat slowly on indirect heat. With gas, just start out on the lowest setting and slowly increase (same with a gas stovetop/range). Oven use recommendations vary. If you do use yours in the oven, it is important to temper it first by heating on the stove top or grill before using in the oven.

I have found several articles such as this one describing how to use a salt block in the oven. If you use your salt block in the oven you may want to try the cookie recipe linked at the bottom of this post. I believe it would be especially good with caramel, chocolate, almonds or brownies!

Caring for a Salt Block

Take care when handling your salt block. Try to lift with even pressure. I move mine on some light bamboo cutting boards. Some salt blocks come with a holder such as this one which reduce the risk of breaking from too much pressure on one area.

The Spice and Tea Exchange salt block had a very small “care instructions” card attached to a canvas carrying case (pretty nice) and the one from Trader Joe's had a full care instruction sheet, it came in an attractive box. I compared the two sets of instructions I had with several dedicated salt block retailers to find the most common recommendations. They are:

Use one side for the top and one for the bottom (to make it last longer)

Heat slowly

Use caution, protect hands, remember salt blocks retain heat for a LONG time. Invest in a rack to carry the block on. (one website even recommended leather gloves and I found these high heat gloves as well)

Rinse, don’t wash

Use often (practice!)

Oil is not necessary

Fast cooking foods are best

After you use the salt block it’s necessary to allow it to completely cool before you clean it. When cool, simply moisten the block with a clean damp sponge, maybe keep one sponge designated for your salt block only? I am using a loofah purchased at our local Farmer's Market for mine. You can scrub with a soft brush or the green scouring pads to remove stuck on foods. Also, there is a tool you can use to clean and scrape your block with. The last step is to dry the block and store it in a dry place, preferably use a drying rack.

NEVER, EVER, EVER use detergent, soap or cleansers on your salt block! (Sorry about the yelling, but that is important) The salt block has powerful antimicrobial properties and thus soapy cleaning is not necessary and can change the taste of your salt block or even destroy it. I noticed the surface of the Trader Joe's slab was very smooth with only a few chips around the edges, but the Spice block was kind of rough all over the surface. Both rinsed well after use.

To watch a video on how to care for Salt Slabs, Blocks, Plates just click HERE. And one more tip: I spoke to one person who said because she did not have central heat and air, she kept her salt block in the fridge, otherwise it was sweating all the time and staying moist. Just sayin’

The Wonderful Salt Block Benefits

Does this seem like a lot of caution and work just to salt your food? Well, stick with me, because it’s about more than just salting your food. Plus, it’s fun and gives you a good reason to add another cookbook to your collection. I prefer to hold cookbooks in my hands but you can get a couple good ones on Kindle as well, such as Salted: A Manifesto on the World's Most Essential Mineral or Salt Block Cooking (click picture to peek inside the book).

Why Use Himalayan Salt at all?

When you cook on a salt block it adds healthy minerals to your foods. Contains a minimum of 84 naturally occurring trace elements

Promotes healthy water distribution in the body

Promotes a healthy pH balance

Prevents muscle cramping

Helps with absorption of nutrients in food

Promotes healthy blood sugar balance

Naturally promotes sleep

Promotes longevity

Essential for brain growth and neurological function

Essential for good adrenal function

Recipes & Suggestions

COLD

Cucumbers, radishes, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes taste amazing after a few minutes on the salt slab

Sushi Grade Salmon

Sushi rolls

Watermelon (my kids did not like this but I LOVED it… add feta for a real treat)

In the end, if I had to choose only one, I would go with the one from Trader Joe's, mainly because the price was so much better and the color more consistent which is apparently better for cooking. Although, I'll probably add to my collection from Amazon as the selection is pretty good. If you are wondering, like I did, if Himalayan Salt is sustainable, it is, but you could read up on it here.

I'm just getting started. I didn't want this post to go on forever, so I'll be adding a few of my own Salt Block recipes soon. Make sure you get updates from my site! Also, don't forget to pin this post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

This was really helpful! Thanks for taking the time to explain, for all of the novices (like me). I noticed the blocks this year at TJ’s, but had NO IDEA what on earth they were or how to use it properly. I’ll routinely check this site for your tips and recipes.

Yeah, I was so excited to find them at Trader Joe’s for such a great price. Everywhere I’ve ever seen them they were really expensive. I hope you were able to grab one and try it out! Thanks for reading and I’m glad you took the time to comment!